67: Chapter 67 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (XV)

Looking for trouble with her?

From start to finish, he just wanted to stay far away from this woman, okay?

From Canglan City to the flying boat, wasn't it always her initiating contact, trying to pester him?

He tried his best to avoid her, but now it had turned into him looking for trouble with her?

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan stood by, looking a bit awkward, and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Xiao Xiao, don't say that. Brother Chu is not that kind of person."

He then looked at Chu Shi and smiled helplessly, "Brother Chu, please forgive her. My sister has been spoiled by our family."

Chu Shi waved his hand, not bothering to argue with Princess Xiao Xiao.

Having been reincarnated several times, he had seen all kinds of people and wasn't going to get angry at a little girl blinded by a green tea bitch.

Furthermore, he had no desire to have any further entanglements with Yun Mengyao.

He looked at Princess Xiao Xiao, his tone calm and unruffled: "Princess, rest assured. I have absolutely no interest in Miss Yun, and I certainly won't go out of my way to look for trouble with her."

"I only hope she behaves herself in the future, doesn't provoke me, and doesn't cause me any trouble."

"As for the past, I will treat it as if it never happened, and naturally, I won't bring it up again."

His words were open and straightforward, and as he spoke, his eyes were clear, without a hint of guilt.

Princess Xiao Xiao raised her eyebrows slightly, seemingly surprised by his reaction.

After a brief moment of surprise, she nodded, her tone softening slightly: "That is for the best."

Upon hearing this, Yun Mengyao quietly breathed a sigh of relief, but an inexplicable sense of unwillingness surged in her heart.

She lowered her head, hiding the emotions in her eyes, still maintaining that weak and delicate appearance.

She curtsied slightly toward Chu Shi and said in a soft, delicate voice: "Thank you, Young Master Chu, for your magnanimity."

Chu Shi ignored her actions and turned his gaze to Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan, preparing to chat a bit about the trial.

Just then, a massive pressure suddenly came from outside the cabin door, instantly enveloping the entire front cabin.

The originally noisy and boisterous crowd instantly fell silent.

All the disciples held their breath and looked toward the door.

They saw an old man dressed in a green elder's robe walking in slowly.

The old man had white hair and a beard, a spirited face, eyes as sharp as an eagle's, and a faint pressure lingering around him.

It was none other than Elder Zhang, who was in charge of recruiting in Canglan State.

Elder Zhang's gaze swept over the hundreds of disciples present, his voice loud and resonant, like a great bell, clearly reaching everyone's ears: "Quiet."

As those two words fell, the entire front cabin became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard, and even the sound of breathing became much lighter.

Elder Zhang nodded with satisfaction and continued: "You are all reserve disciples that I have selected from one in ten thousand in Canglan State."

"Being able to stand here is already proof of your talent."

"But I must tell you, this is just the beginning."

"If you want to truly step into the gates of the Great Sun Holy Land and become formal disciples, you must pass the upcoming entrance trial."

"After disembarking, Utility Disciples will lead you to stay temporarily at the Canglan Courtyard."

Elder Zhang paused, as if giving them time to think, and continued: "The Great Sun Holy Land is the strongest holy land in the Tianwu Dynasty, governing three states."

"Depending on the distance, the Jinwu Flying Boat we are riding is the second one to arrive."

"Three days from now, after the disciples from Heishui State arrive, the entrance trial will officially begin the next morning."

"During this period, I hope you will prepare well."

"You are not allowed to leave the courtyard without permission, you may not trespass into other areas of the Holy Land, and you must not engage in private fights with disciples from other states."

"Violators will have their trial qualifications directly cancelled and will be sent home."

Elder Zhang's words were clearly heard by everyone present.

The disciples below all showed expressions of nervousness and anticipation.

They exchanged glances in twos and threes, but no one dared to speak or discuss it.

Most of them only knew that entering the Holy Land required passing a trial.

But they did not know the specific content of the trial, and felt uneasy.

Chu Shi stood in the crowd, his expression remaining calm.

The experience of multiple reincarnations had long since cultivated in him a state of mind where he could remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Moreover, in his third life, his elder brother Chen Xuan had also joined the Four Seasons Holy Land and had sent back a few words; he thought it should be roughly the same.

It was nothing more than a heart-questioning and foundation test.

He just took note of it in his heart and was not panicked.

Elder Zhang took in the reactions of the disciples, but did not say any more details about the trial; he just gave a few more warnings about the rules and prohibitions, then waved his hand: "Alright, disembark in order and follow the Utility Disciples to the Canglan Courtyard."

As his voice fell, the disciples immediately lined up in order and walked toward the cabin door.

Just as Chu Shi was about to follow the crowd off the ship, Elder Zhang's voice sounded again, with a hint of gentleness: "Chu Shi, you stay behind."

Instantly, all the disciples who hadn't disembarked turned their heads in unison to look at Chu Shi, their eyes filled with shock, envy, and curiosity.

No one expected that Elder Zhang would keep Chu Shi behind alone.

This kind of treatment was not something an ordinary person could have.

Chu Shi was also stunned for a moment, then stopped and bowed slightly to Elder Zhang: "This disciple is here."

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan patted him on the shoulder, gave him an "impressive" look, and then took Princess Xiao Xiao off the ship.

When Princess Xiao Xiao left, she looked back at Chu Shi, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Soon, only Chu Shi and Elder Zhang were left in the cabin.

Elder Zhang walked to the leisure area nearby, sat down, and beckoned to Chu Shi, revealing a gentle smile, "Come over, sit."

Chu Shi complied and walked over, sitting in the chair opposite Elder Zhang, his attitude respectful but neither servile nor overbearing.

"Did you hear what I said just now?" Elder Zhang asked.

"Yes, I heard it all. I will definitely abide by the rules and wait peacefully for the trial," Chu Shi replied.

Elder Zhang nodded, then changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, and said to Chu Shi: "Just now, in front of everyone, I didn't go into detail about the trial. Now I will tell you alone so that you can be prepared in advance."

Chu Shi's eyes tightened slightly, and he sat up straight, listening carefully.

"This entrance trial is a trial method passed down for thousands of years in my Great Sun Holy Land, called the nine-layer heavenly ladder."

"At the entrance, there is a heart-questioning mirror."

"As long as you have no malicious intent toward my Great Sun Holy Land and are not a spy from elsewhere, it is not difficult to pass."

"Then comes the formal nine-layer heavenly ladder."

"This nine-layer heavenly ladder not only tests your foundation but also places great importance on your will and Dao heart."

"Each layer will release a corresponding gravity based on the trial disciple's bone aptitude and cultivation foundation."

"The worse the bone aptitude and the weaker the foundation, the stronger the gravity, and naturally, the lower the number of layers you can climb."

"However, you only need to withstand the gravity for the first three layers."

"Although the difficulty doubles as the level increases."

"But even if your foundation is insufficient, you still have a chance to climb upward by relying on your will."

"Starting from the fourth layer, you will encounter illusions while bearing the gravity."

"Only by breaking them can you continue to climb upward."

"This illusion will strike directly at the deepest obsessions and regrets in your heart, pointing directly to your true self."

"It is meant to verify the martial will and Dao heart of the trial disciple."

Elder Zhang paused and continued: "Chu Shi, I know your bone aptitude is top-tier, and you also have the Innate Flaming Sun Body."

"Your foundation is solid enough, so the gravity test is naturally not a difficult task for you."

"However, this illusion test is the most dangerous part."

"For thousands of years, I don't know how many exceptionally talented geniuses have fallen within the illusions."

"Their Dao hearts were shattered, their martial paths were destroyed; you must not take it lightly."